Gyroscopic compass



Oct 156, H. L. TANNER GYROSCOPIC COMPASS Filed June 28, 1916 4 Shoots-Sheet h. 55 k W I INVENTOR HaPP LJErm 8P A TTORNEYJL Oct. 16, 1928 H. L. TANNER GYROSCOPIC COKE-83$,

Filed June 28, 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet I IIII//// IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

wmlmfimnep Oct. 16, 1928.

, H. L. TANNER GYROSCOPIC COMPASS Filed June 28, 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [N VEN TOR.

Oct. 16, 1928'. 1,687,955

H. L. TANNER GYROSCOPIC COMPASS Fild June 28. 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HARRY L. TANNER v Patented Oct. 16, 192 8. I

UNITED STATES PATEN I 1,687,955 T I OFFICE.

BARR? L. manna-o1. nnooxmm, NEW roax, ASSIGNOR TO THE sunny oraoscorn comrnmz, or nnooxmm, mew your, A CORPORATION or new YORK.

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Application filed June 28,

This invention relates to gyroscopic direction indicating instruments, and more especially to the type of such apparatus which has a positive directive power,'that is an instrumentwhich will seek the meridian, if displaced therefrom.

The principal object of the invention is to improve upon and simplify the tfype of gyrocompass disclosed in my patent or improvementsin gyroscopic compasses, Patent No.

1,309,591, dated July8, 1919.

Referring to the drawin s in which what I now consider to be the preferred forms of my invention are shown: Fig. 1 is an elevation artly in section of a complete compass unit. igs. 2 and 3 are a plan and vertical section, respectively, of the'sup orting stem for oneof the torsion wires. igs. 4 and 5 are a front and side elevation, respectively, of the damping spring and adjacent parts. F ig; 6 is an elevation showing a modified form of coupling between the gyroscopes. Fig. 7 is an end view of the same. Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged details of the preferred formof coupling shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a top plan view showing a modified method of damping. Fig. 11 is an elevation of a modified form of compass. Fig. 12 is a similar View of another modification. Fig. 13 is a section on line 1313 Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the method of controlling the motor by the reversing contacts. Fig. 15 is a wiring'diagram of the modified arrangement applicable to, Fig. 12. Figs. 16 and 17 are diagrams illustrating the theory of operation.

The compass is shown as mounted in a bowl shaped stand which is rovided with a removable cover 2, having a g ass top 3. The I stand is' supported on a standard 4. from which ribs 5 extend to support the ring 6. The shell 7 of the bowl is made removable so that it can be lowered to inspect the compass. The outer gimbal ring 8 within which the inner ring 9 is pivotally supported onpivots 8 is shown as suspended from ring 6 by means of springs 11. The spider 10 is in turn pivoted to ring 9 by pivots 9' at right angles to pivots 8'. InFig. 1, two of the pivots 8' and 9' are shown opposite each other to show their construction, but ofcourse they are really placed at right angles to one another. The spider 10 is provided with a central elongated bearing member 12 which serves to pivota-lly support the azimuth movable unit 30 those skilled in the'art.

1916. Serial No. 108,360.

- tension 16 which may surround member 12 and is provided-with collector rings 17 adapted to lead current into the rotatable unit from brushes .18 fixed 'to the spider 10. These, rings not only bringin the three-phase current for driving the rotors, but also intro-- duce current for the auxiliary control devices, hereinafter described. a

The compass card is shown .81, 19 and is shown as supported from the rotatable unit by means of brackets 20, which also, may serve tosupport the larger gear 21. A motor 22 fixed to the spider 10 is adapted to drive said gear through double reduction gearing 23 and 24. Said gear may also serve to ro- 7 tate a transmitter 25 by means of which'the readings of the compass are transferred to repeater compasses located at various parts of the ship, as will be readily understood by I The rotatable unit is also preferably provided with a cam ring 26 which cooperates withmechanism (not shown) to introduce corrections in the reading of the compass for variations in the shi s speed, heading and latitude,by shifting t e position of the lubber ring 27. 1

The gyroscopic units proper are mounted upon said rotatable unit for freedom about their vertical axes, and also for oscillation about horizontal axes within the support. As illustrating one form of such mountin Ihave shown the gyroscopes as mounte within vertical rings or precession members 28 and 29, which are pivotally supported about their vertical axes within the main frame 30: Preferably the verticalrings are suspended by means of torsion wires from-the frame, as the wires not only serve to furnish a frictionless support, but also serve to centralize the vertical rings within the frame and to dampthe oscillations of the compass about the meridian. The preferred construction for this suspension is shown in Figs. 2. and 3. A hollow stem 31 is supported from the top of frame30 and has mounted within it a plurality of interfitting rotatable parts. The innermost part comprises a threaded thimble 32 having a restricted passage 33 adaptedto clamp the head of the torsion wires 34. Said thimble is threaded in a ro- 1 torsion or twist of the wire and its length.

screw 38 is tightened while screw 37 is returned together.

- ni'shes a valuable means tion at which-the gyroscope 1s centralized tatable sleeve 35, journalled within a second rotatable member 36. i A set screw 37 is provided to lock member 36 to sleeve 31 when desired and a second set'screw 38 supplied to lock sleeve;35 to member 36. This construction furnishes not only a long torsion wire for supporting'the vertical ring, but also provides means for adjusting both the To adjust the length of the wire and thereby take more or less weight off the lower bearing 100 in the rotatable frame 30,the screw 38 is released while screw 37 is clamped down, and sleeve 35 is turned by means of a screw driver; To adjust the torsion of the wire,

leased so that all the inner members are This last adjustment fur for shifting the posifor different latitudes. A compass of this character, it is found, will not settle exactly on the meridian in north and south latitudes. The most convenient way of correcting this defect is to applya slight torque about the individual vertical axes of the gyroscopes .through one or both of the torsion wires as described which will cause the gyroscopes to precess at the required rate to stay on the meridian. The rotor casings 40, 41, are pivoted on horizontal axes 42, 43 within their respective vertical rings 28 and 29. Preferably the pivots are placed above the center of gravity of the casings and their contained parts, so

. that the rotors are pendulously mounted, although as will be evident to those skilled in scopes being,

the art, other systems of mounting may be adopted. Preferably also the rotors 101 within the casings are adapted to be normally driven in opposite directions one of said gyrotherefore, in an unstable condition. In Fig. 1 the spinning axes of rotors are at 102, 103' and are perpendicular to the plane of the paper. The stator of rotor 101 is shown at 104.

A coupling means is provided for causing the main support to follow the orientation of the two gyroscopes and for other purposes.

hereinafter described. Preferably this means is not directly connected to the support but extends between either the two vertloal rings or the rotor casings. In the preferred form;

' of the invention this coupling extends between the rotor casings, and is shown as a pair of angular brackets 45, 46, one of which i This coupling,

extends from each casing. One of the brackets is provided adjacent its end with a ball 47, which en ages in a slot in the form of a fork 48 in t e'lower end of bracket 46. By this .means a simple but effective universal coupling between the casings is provided.

't will 'be seen, simply mainoint attached to each casing in the l ative position allowing all ,movetains a same re ments of both the rotor casings andthe vertical rings, which do not disturb this relation. Thus the casings may swing out about their horizontal axes in the same direction and may turn about the vertical axes of the rings in opposite directions, but the casings cannot be turned about their horizontal axes in the opposite direction nor about the vertical axes in the same direction unless'a compensating movement takes place about the other axes.

That is, the two casings may rotate in opposite directions about the horizontal axes if the vertical rings are also displaced, by remaining parallel to their original positions wzlaile the main support is rotated (see Fig. 1

A system of contacts is arranged to operate the motor 22, above referred to.- Preferably thesecontacts are mounted so as to be moved by rotation of the vertical rings inopposite directions. They are shown as a "pair of reversing contacts 50 mounted on a bracket 51, secured to vertical ring 28 and a cooperating brush or trolley 52 mounted on bracket 53 on ring 29. If the vertical ring 29 for instance should become displaced within the follow-up frame. 30 the trolley rolls to one side or the other side of contacts and causes current to flow through one or the other of the field windings 122, 1230f the motor 22, thereby applying a torque about the vertical axis of.the -main support in the proper direction. The contacts are also completed by displacement of the rings under the special conditions above described. I find it advantageous to design the contact 50, 52 so that the main support will be continuously oscillated through a small angle by the rapid reversing of motor 22. For this purpose the air gap between the two contacts is made small so that the trolley 52 will touch both contact strips in the central position.

Fordamping the oscillations of the comfpass about the meridian, the torque of the suspension'wires 34 proves very effective, but for damping the individual oscillations of the gyroscopes within the frame, I prefer to provide additional means, In Figs. 1, 4 and 5 this means consists of a spring 55 which is secured adjacent one end to a bracket 56 extending downwardly from the rotor casing 40, and adjacent its other end is secured to a fixed part 57 on the frame 30. that the spring willbe unaffected by rotation of the gyroscope about the vertical axis,-but

Ill.

It will be seen will be placed under tension by tilting about the horizontal axis within the frame and will in this position exert a torque about the vertical axes in opposite directions, the torque on Figs. 1, 8 and 9. A modified form of damper for this type of,

the spring at one end to frame 29, it will be obvious that it may be connected to any other point of the frame such as a point on the other gyro frame 41 corresponding to the point of connection to the gryo frame 40. Such construction is broadly suggested in Figs. 10 and 11. v j p Figs. 6 and 7 show a modified form of universal coupling for the gyroscopes. According to this form bracket 45' is provided with a; pin 60 and on bracket 46 block 61 is jourcompass is shown in Figs. 6 and 10. According to this modificationa bracket 65 extends from ring 28, while a second bracket 66 extends from ring 29, the two brackets being connected by a tension spring '67, or other yielding means. Upon displacement of the rings, the spring exerts a torque about the horizontal axis of each gyroscope in opposite directions, through the universal coupling.

Referringnow toFig. 11 in which a substantial modification is'shown, it will at once be seen thatthe main changes in the construction are the substitution of gears 70, 71 attached to the vertical rings 28 and 29' for the universal coupling attached to the gyro rotor casings. These gears furnish a ready means for'permittin'g only equal and opposite rotation of the vertical rings about their pivotal axes. According to this modification also, the contacts which control the motor 22 are mounted upon the gyro rotor-casings by means of brackets 72 and 73. Preferably the contacts. are so arranged that they will actuate the motor 22 not only'upon oscillation in opposite directions of the rotor frames about their horizontal axes, but also upon opposite rotation about their vertical axes. One method of accomplishing this result is to place the contacts'to one side of the central or midway position between the two vertical rings, that IS, out of line vertically with the line of contact between gears and 71. By this arrangement of the contacts the motor is made to perform,in addition to the functionit performs in the main form of the invention, some of the functions performed by the universal coupling between the rotor casings. As explained'above with reference to Fig. 1, any

tendency of the two gyroscopes to rotate inopposite directions about their horizontal axes will exert a torque about their vertical axes through said coupling. In Fig. 11 it will be seen that the gears 7 0 and 71 do not perform this function, but that upon such rotationabout their horizontal axes, contacts 50' and 52' will be completed to actuate motor 22' and thus exert the desired torque about the vertical axis ofthe frame. The idea of having a torque ap lied throu h motor 22 upon opposite rotation about t eir vertical axes is also made use of in this modification by positioning the contacts eccentrically as explained. L I

As pointed out above, the contacts 50 and 52 perform a double function. In Fig. 12a

modification is shown in which aset of contacts is employed for each function, that is, a pair of contacts 80, 81 are secured to the rotor casings and are actuated upon relative rotation of the gyro casings about their horizontal axes and a second pair of contacts 82, 83 secured to the vertical rings 28", 29" actuate the motor on relative displacement about their vertical axes.

'The'preferr'ed form of damping means for "this form of compass consists of a tension spring 90, which extends between brackets 91,

92 secured tothe vertical rings 28 and 29 respectively. Adjacent its center the spring is secured to, or. passes through, a downwardly extending arm 93 of a bell crank lever 94 (see F ig. 13).' Adjacent each end of the lever is pivoted a piston 95 which works. in a dashpot 96 secured to 'frame 30'. It will be seen that upon relative rotation of the rings about their vertical axes the spring 90 will be moved laterally, and thus will push or pull upon the dashpots. Another effective damping means for this type of compass consists in employing very heavy, thick oil in the bearings 100, of the vertical rings (Figs. 1 and 12), these bearings preferably being of the ball bearing type.-

The operation of my invention is, in general, as 'follows:-Let us suppose that the compass is off the meridian. The two gyroscopes will then begin to rise as the earth turns out from under them. As both casings are pendulus, this will result in a torque being applied about the horizontal axis of each gyroscope, and, as they are rotating in opposite directions, opposite precession Wlll occur. about their individual vertical axes. In other words, the vertical rings will move from the full to the dotted line position in Fig. 16. The showing in these figures is diagrammatic, only, as the movements that take place, are greatly exaggerated for the sake of clearness.

The main support 30 is shown merely-as a rectangular base to illustrate its movements. From Fig. 16 it will be seen that by the said precessional movement, contacts 50, 52 will be completed, since trolley 52 has been moved to one side of point 150, thereby causing motor 22 to applya torque about the vertical axis of the main frame 30 in the direction of the arrow. This-will tend to cause opposite precession of the two gyros about their horizontal axes, causing one gyroscope to aproach the vertical position and the other to become still further inclined. With the rotors running as indicated, rotor 41 in frame 29 would become further inclined. But, as

explained above, this movement, acting wire applies a torque about its vertical axes to cause precession about a horizontal axis. The result is that the elevation of gyro 41 is reduced and that of gyro 40 reversed, so that the two gyros become equally and oppositely inclined about their horiz on'tal axes. In this position, gravity acting on them will cause them to orient in the same direction, which acting through the coupling will, with the assistance of motor 22, speedily bring the compass to the meridian, and the gyros to a position of equilibrium, after a few oscilla-' tions. As stated" above, the oscillations about the meridian are quickly suppressed by the damping effect of the torsion wlres, while the pendulous oscillations of the gyros within the main frame are damped by the auxiliary yielding means 55, 67 or 90.

By comparing the operation of my im- "proved compass with that disclosed in my aforesaidapplication, it will be seen that I have been able to reduce the number of contacts employed and eliminate the torque applying means for exerting a torque-- opposed to that exerted by gravity about the horizontal axis of the unstable'or oppositely rotating gyroscope by employing means which cause the said gyroscope to become inclined opposite to the normal inclination of a gyroscope, when off the meridian, thereby enabling gravity to act upon the gyroscope insuch a direction as to cause it to precess toward the meridian. Substantially the full directive force of both gyroscopes is again employed, to bring the main support to the meridian. Also, all of the other advantages of this design of compass over the present types are retained, such as the elimination of devia- I tions due to rolling and pitching of the ship and deviations due to friction about the vertical axis of support. t i

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I-have herein described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus, which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof,"'but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered, and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention'extends to such use.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s 7 1. The combination with a frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of interconnected gyroscopes mounted thereon for rotation about vertical axes within the frame, and means responsivei'to relative movement about their individual vertical axes for exerting a torque. about the axis of said frame.

2. The combination with a frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of interconnected gyroscopes mounted thereon for rotation about vertical axes within the frame and for oscillation about horizontal axes, and means responsive to relative movement about their individual vertical axes for exerting a torque about theaxis of said frame.

3. The combination with a frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of gyroscopes mounted tliereon for rotation about vertical axes within the frame andfor oscillation about horizontal axes, a coupling for preventing relative movement of the gyros copes at a predetermined point, and

means responsive to another relative movement of the gyroscopes for exerting a torque about the axis of said frame. I

4. In gyroscopic apparatus, a supporting frame, a pair of precession members mounted thereon, a rotor and rotor bearing frame mounted for oscillation in each member, and a universal coupling connecting said bearing frames.

5. In gyroscopic apparatus, a supporting frame, a pair of precession members mounted thereon, a rotor and rotor bearing frame mounted for oscillation in each member, and a coupling connecting said bearing frames 'which prevents rotation of the members in the same direction and oscillation of the bearing frames in opposite directions.

6. A gyro-compass including a frame mounted for movement about a vertical axis,

a gyroscope, means mounting said gyroscope in the normally centralized position in said frame for turning about a vertical axis within the frame, said gyroscope normally rotatingin a counter clockwise'direction, look- 3 ing north, and means brought into action by the turning of the gyroscope and mounting means within the frame about said vertical axis away from its centralized position for applying a torque about the vertical axis of the frame..

7. A gyro-compass including a' frame mounted for movement about a vertical axis, agyroscope, means mountingthe same for turning about a vertical axis and oscillation about a horizontal axis within the frame, said gyroscope normally rotating in a counter:

clockwise direction, looking north, contact means brought into action by the turning of the gyroscope within the fi aine away from the meridian and a motor controlled by said contact for applying a torque about the ver tical'axis of the frame in such a direction as to cause .the elevation about the horizontal axis to be reduced or reversed.

8. In a gyro-compass, a main support, a

gyroscope and means for suspending the port, a pair of rings mounted thereon for movement'about parallel axes, a rotor and rotor bearing frame mounted within each frame for oscillation about an axis at an angle to said .parallel axes, and acoupling means for maintainmg both the rings andthe frames ina predetermined relation comprising a-slotted arm secured to one bearing frame and a ball secured to the other bearing frame and normally positioned in said slot.

10. In a gyroscopic compass, av support mounted for orientation, a pair of gyroscopes adapted to "be oppositely rotated, mounted thereon for turning about vertical axes and oscillation about horizontal axes within said coupling connecting said gyroscopes brought into action'by the turning'of-the ,egyroscopes in opposite directions about their vertical of the gyroscopestojbe reduced or reversed.

11. In gy'roscopic apparatus, a main support, a pair of rings'mounted thereon for movement about parallel axes, a rotor and rotor bearing frame mounted within each ring for oscillation about an axis at an angle tosaid parallel axes, and resilient damping means connected to a bearing frame which applies a torque about the said parallel axes of the gyroscopes upontilting of said frame about said second mentioned axis.

12. The combination with a frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality .of gyroscopes, means mounting said gyro scopes in said frame for rotation about vertical axes Within the frame and for oscillation about horizontal axes, and universal coupling means interconnecting said gyroscopes.

13. The combination with a frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plu-.

rality of gyroscopes, meansmounting said gyroscopes in said frames for rotation about vertical axes Within the frame and for oscillation about horizontal axes, universal coupling means interconnecting said gyroscopes and resilient means connected to a gyroscopefor applying a torque about its vertical axis upon inclination thereof within'the frame.

14. A gyro-compass comprising in combination two gyrosoopes, one in stable and one in unstable equilibrium, and viscous damping means acting about the vertical axes of the gyroscopes'.

15. Agyro-co'npass comprising in combination a frame, a suspension therefor, two

gyroscopes mounted in the frame, one of which is in stable equilibrium and the other in unstable equilibrium, the direction of rotation of the unstable gyroscope being opposite to that ofv the other and viscous damping.

means acting on an axis of thegyros'copes whereby their mutual reactions damp .the oscillations of the compass and prevent deviation due to periodic lateral movement.

16. In a gyro-compass, the combination with supporting frame mounted for orientation, a pair of gyroscopes mounted thereon for rotation about vertical axes and oscillation about; horizontal axes within the frame, a coupling between said 'gyroscopes for exerting torques on each gyroscope about its axes for causing the-natural elevation of one horizontal axis on relative displacement of said frame and' .gyroscopes, means for disreversal of the torque applied by said first named means about said horizontal axes.- In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HARRY L. TANNER.

Ion 

